Billing code 27420: Patellar reconstructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reconstructs a patella that repeatedly dislocates or remains unstable, when the operation does not include the extensor realignment described by the related code.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 27420 in Florida.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 27420 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses this operation to stabilize a patella with recurrent dislocation or persistent instability. The work may involve soft-tissue or bony reconstruction around the kneecap, based on the patient’s anatomy and the cause of instability. It is typically performed in an operating room for a surgical episode rather than as an office service. The key distinction from 27422 is that this code is for reconstruction without the extensor-mechanism realignment specified by that code.
Select the code from the operative report’s description of the reconstruction and whether extensor realignment was performed. Documentation should identify the instability, the structures addressed, and the procedures used. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 27420 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $766.48 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $826.17 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $727.68 |
How the 27420 rate is calculated
Each of 27420’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 27420
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 10.00Practice expense 8.98Malpractice 2.13
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 27420
27420 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 27420
Patellar reconstruction
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 27420
Patellar reconstruction
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
27420 without 50 · national facility
$705.09
Patellar reconstruction
27420-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,057.64
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
27420 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
27420 vs 27422 vs 27425 vs 27424: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 27422Patellar reconstruction
- This code is for patellar reconstruction without the extensor realignment specified for 27422. Base selection on the documented operative work.
- 27425Patellar release
- 27425 describes an open lateral retinacular release. It is not the code for reconstructing a recurrently dislocating patella.
- 27424Patella surgery
- 27424 describes removal of all or part of the patella; 27420 is used when the operative service reconstructs and stabilizes the patella.
27420 billing questions
How do I choose between 27420 and 27422?
Use 27420 when the patellar reconstruction does not include the extensor realignment specified for 27422. Check the operative report for the actual technique rather than relying only on a diagnosis of patellar instability.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, while team surgery is not permitted.
What happens when other procedures are performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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